Miami's surrounding competition makes 2023 an impact year

Miami football desperately needs positive results in 2023. It’ll be year two under head coach Mario Cristobal, and if he isn’t able to show much improvement over the dreadful 5-7 finish last fall, folks will begin to wonder if his hire is just another in a string of recent ‘Canes coaches who wound up fired.

2023 is also a massive year for Miami on the recruiting trail. With in-state rivals Florida and Florida State also trying to build under their relatively new head coaches, it’s an arms race in the Sunshine State. That’s why On3’s JD PicKell considers this coming fall an “impact year” for Miami. Go sub-.500 again and the program will be seeped in even more questions. Win 8, 9, 10 games or so and the future (and likely the recruiting) is looking up once again.

Check out PicKell on why so much hangs in the balance for the Hurricanes as we approach kickoff.

JD PicKell explains why 2023 is massive for Miami

“The reason why it’s an impact year is because of what’s around you Let’s start with just the talent that’s around you. I say talent in terms of where you have to draw from on the recruiting trail? Like Florida is arguably the top state to recruit from. And then the other piece of that is who you’re competing with.

“You have one, Florida State, who’s a team that is currently in the top 10 of the On3 Industry team recruiting rankings, so they’re starting to see some dividends from what they did, you know, a couple of seasons ago and built to last season with a great year last year. And they’re hoping to have a College Football Playoff berth this coming year. Like they’re what’s hot right now in the state of Florida.

“Then, next to them, you got the Florida Gators. And say what you want about Billy Napier, he prioritizes recruiting. He does. So Florida is going to be a player and they’re going to be a brand on the recruiting trail that you got to deal with year in and year out. It’s just the way it is for Miami.

“So, even though it’s only year two, I need you to recreate what I believe of your team. And what I mean by that is: last year, Miami probably had a better roster than what they achieved. So all I’m asking for Miami is just achieve what your roster is asking you to achieve. Go win eight games. If you go win eight games, you get the over, I believe, on what Vegas is saying you’re going to do. Like, that’s great. Then we can say alright, look at the way this thing is headed.”